After the piano we continue our studies on musical instruments. Next in line is the violin. This popular, sensitive and wonderfully singing instrument is fundamentally important in the history of music.
Great-great-grandfather of any violin is the lira. The lira is a pearl shaped bowed instrument with three or five strings. This device is still alive and kicking, as in many Balkan countries it is a commonly used musical instrument, even today. This era’s other important musical device is the Arab two-stringed rabab. Great-grandfather of any violin is the medieval fiddle (fiedel in German, vielle in French). This instrument emerged in Europe around the 10th-century.
The violin’s documented history starts around 1550, when it evolved its currently known form. The name comes from the Latin vitula, meaning stringed instrument. The earliest violin makers were Andre Amati and Gasparo di Bertolotti, both Italians. In fact, violins made by these masters still exist today, the earliest one from 1565. The violin strings were first made of sheep gut and the bow from horse hair. Spruce and maple are the two most commonly used wood types for creating a violin. A typical violin will have over 70 different parts.
During its history it was subject to modifications, most notably by Antonio Stradivari. The last major improvements were made in response to the appearance of large auditoriums and the first violin heroes: the violin virtuoso. The sound post and bass bar were thickened, the neck was angled back in order to give bigger pressure on the strings. The result was a much stronger and louder tone, compared to the older somewhat intimate sounding violins.
The violin is probably the most popular instrument in the world! It is capable to suit many styles, from fast and lively, to slow and sanguine. The 17th century saw the violin becoming a regular member of any orchestra. The first famous composer to incorporate this new instrument was Claudio Monteverdi, but many early experimenting souls followed suit: Vivaldi, Haydn and Paganini.
In a modern orchestra violins receive the most attention. First, they sit right in the front, second there are many of them! A typical orchestra will have around 10 first violins and 10 second violins. The first violins play the melody, the second section plays a supportive part and usually the lower harmonies.
As a closing let us listen to the exposition of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata no.5 (op.24.), commonly known as the Spring Sonata!
